The crew continues their Top 25 Games of 2011 countdown and with #’s 11-15 we begin to see just what an epic year it was for games as some titles that would have easily been in the Top 10 most other years, find themselves just on the outside looking in.

#15: Assassin’s Creed Revelations

Publisher: UbisoftDeveloper: Ubisoft MontrealWhy It Made The List: Finding a way to keep an ongoing epic interesting is always a difficult task, especially when moving into the fourth chapter. But Revelations was able to deliver yet another engrossing story with tight gameplay in the Assassin’s Creed lineage—and showed that even an old dog like the now-graying Ezio Auditore can learn new tricks in order to keep gamers hooked. – Marc Camron

#14: Catherine

Publisher: AtlusDeveloper: AtlusWhy It Made The List: While Atlus is known for the high-school demon-summoning drama of Persona, Catherine offered something different from the Japanese publisher/developer: a thirtysomething protagonist involved in a love triangle. But despite the come-hither looks staring back from the game’s packaging, Catherine wasn’t all about the sex. It was about the challenges that we face as adults—and kudos to Atlus for realizing that the generation raised on the NES wants something that speaks to us as grown-ups. — Andrew Fitch

#13: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Publisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Infinity WardWhy It Made The List: The Holy Grail of the FPS genre returned with yet another multimillion-selling entry in Modern Warfare 3. The core of the game is its multiplayer, and the improved Spec Ops mode and inclusion of Kill Confirmed has done nothing but improve on the established formula. And although MW3’s working with a dated engine, the graphics are still top notch, and improved class balance proves that this shooter’s simply the most powerful name in gaming today. — Matthew Bennett

#12: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Publisher: NintendoDeveloper: NintendoWhy It Made The List: If Skyward Sword would’ve just included the option for traditional controls, it might’ve challenged for Game of the Year. Even so, the latest Zelda provided the only high point on the Wii this year. A stunning prequel to Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword takes Zelda fans someplace we’ve never been: the clouds. No matter how you feel about motion-control gaming, Skyward Sword deserves a chance. — Marc Camron

#11: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Publisher: Sony Computer EntertainmentDeveloper: Naughty DogWhy It Made The List: There’s a reason the Internet’s dubbed the developer of the Uncharted series “Naughty God”—Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception continues to push the PlayStation 3’s hardware in ways few other developers can dream. If this should be the final console adventures of Nathan Drake before he makes the jump to gaming’s next generation, then it’s a heckuva way to go out. — Eric L. Patterson

A solid list of games, to be certain, but which titles managed to beat them out on the path to our Game of the Year? Only time will tell. Be sure to check back tomorrow for part four of our Top 25, featuring EGM’s picks for #10 – #6!

Now that #15 – #11 are in the books, what do you guys think of the staff’s picks? Be among the first to comment and let us know below!

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EGM’s Top 25 of 2011 Part 3: #15 – #11

The debate is done, the dust has settled, and EGM’s editors have weighed in on their top picks of 2011 in our weeklong megafeature. Where will your favorites end up? Click here to take a look at games #15-#11!

By | 12/21/2011 04:36 PM PT

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The crew continues their Top 25 Games of 2011 countdown and with #’s 11-15 we begin to see just what an epic year it was for games as some titles that would have easily been in the Top 10 most other years, find themselves just on the outside looking in.

#15: Assassin’s Creed Revelations

Publisher: UbisoftDeveloper: Ubisoft MontrealWhy It Made The List: Finding a way to keep an ongoing epic interesting is always a difficult task, especially when moving into the fourth chapter. But Revelations was able to deliver yet another engrossing story with tight gameplay in the Assassin’s Creed lineage—and showed that even an old dog like the now-graying Ezio Auditore can learn new tricks in order to keep gamers hooked. – Marc Camron

#14: Catherine

Publisher: AtlusDeveloper: AtlusWhy It Made The List: While Atlus is known for the high-school demon-summoning drama of Persona, Catherine offered something different from the Japanese publisher/developer: a thirtysomething protagonist involved in a love triangle. But despite the come-hither looks staring back from the game’s packaging, Catherine wasn’t all about the sex. It was about the challenges that we face as adults—and kudos to Atlus for realizing that the generation raised on the NES wants something that speaks to us as grown-ups. — Andrew Fitch

#13: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Publisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Infinity WardWhy It Made The List: The Holy Grail of the FPS genre returned with yet another multimillion-selling entry in Modern Warfare 3. The core of the game is its multiplayer, and the improved Spec Ops mode and inclusion of Kill Confirmed has done nothing but improve on the established formula. And although MW3’s working with a dated engine, the graphics are still top notch, and improved class balance proves that this shooter’s simply the most powerful name in gaming today. — Matthew Bennett

#12: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Publisher: NintendoDeveloper: NintendoWhy It Made The List: If Skyward Sword would’ve just included the option for traditional controls, it might’ve challenged for Game of the Year. Even so, the latest Zelda provided the only high point on the Wii this year. A stunning prequel to Ocarina of Time, Skyward Sword takes Zelda fans someplace we’ve never been: the clouds. No matter how you feel about motion-control gaming, Skyward Sword deserves a chance. — Marc Camron

#11: Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Publisher: Sony Computer EntertainmentDeveloper: Naughty DogWhy It Made The List: There’s a reason the Internet’s dubbed the developer of the Uncharted series “Naughty God”—Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception continues to push the PlayStation 3’s hardware in ways few other developers can dream. If this should be the final console adventures of Nathan Drake before he makes the jump to gaming’s next generation, then it’s a heckuva way to go out. — Eric L. Patterson

A solid list of games, to be certain, but which titles managed to beat them out on the path to our Game of the Year? Only time will tell. Be sure to check back tomorrow for part four of our Top 25, featuring EGM’s picks for #10 – #6!

Now that #15 – #11 are in the books, what do you guys think of the staff’s picks? Be among the first to comment and let us know below!